3.2.7.90 YA Study-load - Full-time Students in Non-traditional Courses

Various learning options

The study-load implications for the following non-traditional learning methods are discussed in this topic:

• self-paced courses,
• competency based training,
• Open Universities Australia studies (formerly Open Learning Australia) (1.1.O.20), and
• combinations of open learning and traditional learning.

Self-paced courses

If a student is undertaking a self-paced course, then the following issues need to be determined in consultation with the institution or through accreditation papers:

• normal accreditation and registration requirements,
• normal course duration for a full-time student, and
• normal amount of full-time study.

Normal study-load in self-paced courses is the average study-load for a student who completes the course in the normal full-time duration. This would take account of:

• the normal course duration for a full-time student,
• the number of subjects or units to be completed,
• the normal duration of subjects, modules or units, and
• whether content components are taken sequentially or concurrently.

Example: The normal full-time duration for a course requires a student to undertake 4 units every 4 months. A student would be considered full-time if they studied 75% of the full-time load, or 3 units every 4 months.

Act reference: SSAct section 541B Undertaking full-time study

CBT & open learning

Under CBT and open learning arrangements, while students have the flexibility to structure their own study pattern, their activities and progress are usually monitored by the institutions.

Institutions themselves can best determine the study-load a student is undertaking. The primary consideration for YA purposes is that the student is:

• formally enrolled as a full-time student, AND
• considered by the institution to be undertaking, on average, a full-time study-load over the relevant period.

Some CBT courses do not have set term/semester dates. In such cases, the institution will need to advise that the student is undertaking, on average, a full-time study-load from a specified date to a specified date.

Open Universities Australia

Open Universities Australia acts as a broker of distance education in conjunction with 15 universities and TAFEs. Tertiary courses have a full-time work load of 8 subjects per year or 2 subjects per study period.

The following table shows the kinds of tertiary units undertaken through Open Universities Australia (formerly OLA) and how to identify them.

Students will normally need to undertake at least 2 single units (or one full double unit) in any one study period to be considered to be undertaking full-time study. A student must be undertaking this work load to receive payment unless a 25% study-load concession applies.

Open Universities Australia TAFE modules

The normal amount of full-time study for students who undertake Open Universities Australia TAFE models is determined by the location of the TAFE that provides the TAFE level course the student is undertaking. The student may be assessed as a full-time student for YA purposes if:

• they undertake a minimum number of hours of study per week in a study period required in the state/territory, or
• their study-load fits any of the other full-time criteria.

Open learning & conventional study

Students who are enrolled in conventional internal or external studies may also undertake one or more Open Universities Australia units. In this case the student is assessed as a full-time student if:

• they meet the normal study-load requirements in either the conventional course or the Open Universities Australia study, OR
• the combined workload meets the requirements and the student provides a letter from the academic registrar, or equivalent, confirming that the successful Open Universities Australia study will be credited towards the student's primary course.

Act reference: SSAct section 541B Undertaking full-time study

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.2.7.40 Approved Courses of Study for YA

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Last reviewed: 7 December 2009